CASH FOR TAY CITIES DEAL MAY BE SHORT OF TARGET Projects could be under pressure
Council leaders in Perth and Kinross may need to significantly lower their expectations as to how much money they will get through the muchheralded Tay Cities Deal.
Speaking to the PA this week, Scotland Office minister Lord Duncan (left) suggested the sums of cash councils across Tayside will see paid into their accounts by both the UK and Scottish governments when the deal is finally done will fall far short of what some leaders had been hoping for.
Up until this week it had been assumed the proposed deal would see the two governments part with a combined total of £763 million to be split between Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Angus and Fife Council and
used to pay for projects such as the long-awaited construction of the proposed £120m Cross Tay Link Road.
But when quizzed on what progress had been made behind the scenes on finalising the deal Lord Duncan told the PA the deal could amount to as little as £400m.
It could mean some Perth and Kinross-specific projects contained in the deal like the Cross Tay Link Road, planned revamps of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Perth Museum and Art Gallery and a business innovation park in Perth, end up being allocated less cash than had been hoped or knocked out of the deal altogether, although Lord Duncan would not be drawn on what projects might not make the cut.
Speaking during a tour round Perthshire this week, he said: “The figure the Scottish Government are using is £200m and they’re hoping that we’ll match it, so it would only be £400m those are the numbers we’re using at the present moment.
“Our difficulty in this is we’ve struggled to get the Scottish Government to confirm their areas of spend but at the same time we remain very open to collaboration with the Scottish Government.”
Asked what projects were currently getting backing from the UK Government Lord Duncan suggested there was strong support for some of the proposed deals more innovative proposals.
“We’re looking at the International Barley Hub [at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie] and we’re looking at the project [linking] Dundee Airport and the aviation school in Perth.”
On the £30m being sought through the deal for the mooted Perth City Hall and Perth Museum and Art gallery revamp Lord Duncan added: “We’re hoping if there can be strong encouragement to get the Stone of Destiny [brought to Perth] the city hall will become a nationally significant museum and [justify] a UK Government spend.”
Mr Duncan made his remarks just a day after 10 nationalist politicians, including Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart, felt compelled to write to Theresa May urging her ensure her UK Government matches any funding commitment made by the Scottish Government in the final deal.
In his PA column today, Mr Wishart says the UK Government may only finance 30 per cent of the deal.
He adds: “I know that those behind projects vying to be a part of the deal are worried.
“Many thought that the deal would be well on its way to being delivered by now.”
A UK Government spokesperson said this week: “We are working closely and constructively with all city deal partners to ensure that the projects we support are value for money and will make a real impact in the region.”